Mark Atong Journal - let me tell you a story

Bantayan Island, Cebu: Seriously, Where Do Broken Hearts Go??

April 22, 2018April 21, 2018 Mark Atong0 comment

Bantayan Island is a very beautiful island! That goes without saying. Even without the shadows of the movie filmed in the island, I think it can do very fine. But then, it will have to be an alternate reality. I love drama. And how society celebrates heartaches nowadays provides the fuel to that ever-burning fire. Wearing emotions on the sleeves proves to be the new black. Everybody is so emotional in all platforms that some businesses’ marketing strategies are focused to, not only highlight but, capitalize these emotions. The emotional…

Beaches Mindanao Mountains

Dahican, Mati, Davao Oriental: This Is What I Came For

April 14, 2018April 19, 2018 Mark AtongAmihan sa Dahican, Beach, Dahican, Davao Oriental, Mati, Municipal Baywalk Park, Skimboarding, Sleeping Dinosaur Island0 comment

Wena never liked the idea of traveling by dawn. She was not a morning person – never had been! Therefore, the idea of traveling to Dahican, Mati, Davao Oriental at 03:00 AM discombobulated her up to not joining the trip. But, she did. She had been to Dahican a few months back. It was one of the trips she treasured the most. Yet the stars in the skies appeared to have aligned and drove her into going back to the place again. Considering that it was summer, she considered it…

Beaches SOCCSKSARGEN

Burias, Glan, Sarangani: I’m Gonna Marry the Night

April 2, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongBurias Glan, Holy Week 2018, Kingkim Beach0 comment

I just wanted to check the beaches in Burias, Glan, Sarangani. It never happened! Burias has been having waves in SOCCSKSARGEN. Burias, a barangay in Glan, boasts developing beaches which have been on the list of many. Most people refer to the beaches in the name of its barangay – Burias. Conveniently, Burias is a famous island in Masbate and adopting the name in a SOX tourism destination is confusing and a little reductive, I think. After an advertent planning, I and my officemates decide to head to Kingkim Beach…

Itinerary Miscellaneous Visayas

Carbon Night Market: Smells Nothing Like Teen Spirit

March 27, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongCarbon Night Market, Cebu City, Chorizo, Fort San Pedro, Magellan's Cross0 comment

I have always been fascinated by night markets, because, not only do you experience the hustle but take part of the haggle which is their very nature. Almost every city has a night market. Some may be interesting while others are taking it to next levels. I have been to the night market of Koronadal and Davao and I do not even know if one exists in General Santos. Well, we have the Tiongson Arcade and I think that qualifies. Carbon Night Market, though, has always been on the list…

Itinerary Mountains Visayas

Bacalla Woods Campsite, San Fernando, Cebu: Swinging Like a Wrecking Ball

March 16, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongBacalla Woods Campsite, Cebu, Infinity Swing, San Fernando0 comment

I did not know what to write. For the first time, I opened a blank document and stared at it for quite some time before acknowledging the lack of words to write. It did not happen very often thus I was slightly perturbed by it happening. For sure, that had nothing to do with the topic in mind – Bacalla Woods Campsite – as we spent one of the most fun afternoons we had in that area. I never intended to write a travel blog. Despite having the invalidated skill…

Itinerary Miscellaneous SOCCSKSARGEN Springs

Hitting Lake Agco, Kidapawan City and New Israel, Makilala of North Cotabato with One Ride

March 6, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongAgco Mahomanay Mountain Resort, Kidapawan City, Lake Agco, Makilala, New Israel, New Israel Monkeys, New Israel Zip Line, North Cotabato, SoxIsNext, soxph, Tubac Overview0 comment

It went as planned. After the Lake Sebu ride, the group agreed to do Lake Agco next. The plan to include New Israel materialized after their realization that there couldn’t be just one destination for that long ride. Lake Agco was in Kidapawan. Being on the foot of Mt. Apo, it was renowned for its cold and hot springs with the hot springs outsourcing its resources primarily from the lake. New Israel, a barangay in Makilala, North Cotabato, slowly established its tourism footing throughout the years and continued to do…

Beaches Islands Mindanao Springs

The Unforgiving Rain During Barobo, Surigao del Sur Day Tour

February 27, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongBarobo, Bogac Cold Spring, Cabgan Island, Libuacan Cold Spring, Naked Island, Surigao del Sur, Turtle Island, Vanishing Island, Veto Cold Spring0 comment

It rained and it poured. I just summarized the Barobo, Surigao del Sur tour in one sentence. Should you wish to stop reading, you could possibly do so; thank you very much. I was with Marefe and Merk on this tour. We, the trio, joined the tour of five vans in total convoying to Barobo, Surigao del Sur. We departed Davao City at around 0100 AM and promptly arrived before 0600 AM with the thickening clouds above us threatening heavy rains. Any tour could be ruined by merely a drizzle…

Itinerary SOCCSKSARGEN Springs

A Solo Valentine Trip to Mambukal Hot Springs, Koronadal City, South Cotabato

February 15, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongKoronadal City, Mambukal Hot Springs, South Cotabato, SoxIsNext, soxph, Valentines 20180 comment

“I got tired of waiting / Wondering if you were ever coming around” – Love Story, Taylor Swift Valentines this year had been interesting. Just by observing the behaviors of the people around on how they scramble, I was able to postulate that not only were singles on edge of their seats in finding something to do but as well as the couples who battle the pressure of marketing. There were so many opinions which were floating around on how best to spend or not spend the day. My unsolicited…

SOCCSKSARGEN Waterfalls

Another Motorcycle Ride to Lake Sebu 7 Falls, South Cotabato

January 22, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongLake Sebu, Lake Sebu 7 Falls, Ride, South Cotabato, SoxIsNext, soxph0 comment

I don’t know about you but I think a one-day off kind of sucks. Even when you have been on that routine schedule for years, there are times when you wish that that day can stretch. Typically you would wish that when you are going somewhere on the weekends or when you are just dead tired of the weekdays. The ride to Lake Sebu 7 Falls takes just a day, but being on a motorcycle can be tiring that you’d wish another day of resting afterward. I don’t understand why…

Beaches Islands Mindanao Springs Waterfalls

I Left My Heart in Camiguin

January 18, 2018April 16, 2018 Mark AtongArdent Hibok-Hibok Spring Resort, Camiguin Island, Camiguin White Island, Katibawasan Falls, Magsaysay Island, Mantigue Island, Old Catarman Church Ruins, Stations of the Cross, Sto. Nino Cold Spring, Sunken Cemetery, Tuasan Falls, Walkway to the Old Volcano0 comment

I don’t usually travel when I am not clear-headed. In as much as I want to go to different places, I always want to remember them. Which is why I almost always see to it that I have no baggage whatsoever. This Camiguin tour is different. I went on this trip with bottled anger and frustrations; some are even decade-old, in hopes to flush all these negativities down the “island born of fire”. The worst thing about the past is that it has this unique way of creeping in your…